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mjc2024(Newbie)Newbie
20 Apr 2026

Some employee conducts customer visits to conduct work related activities (as needed so frequency varies and irregular). It is a day trip only. The company allows them to buy food like light meals before, during, or after visit and the company reimburses it. Will this be considered FBT?

127 views
3 replies
127 views
3 replies

All replies

JayATO(Community Support)Community Support
21 Apr 2026

Hi @mjc2024,


FBT will apply to the reimbursement of light meals consumed during work-related customer visits in this scenario. Meals purchased during a normal workday are generally not considered deductible expenses for the employee, even if they are consumed while performing work duties. As a result, the 'otherwise deductible rule' does not apply, and the reimbursement is subject to FBT.


Meals consumed during a regular workday, even if related to work activities, are not treated as travel expenses for tax purposes. This is because the employee is not travelling away from their usual work location overnight or incurring expenses that would otherwise be deductible.

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Is there FBT on expense reimbursement of food consumed during field work? | ATO Community